Despite Wet Fields, Some Planting and Harvesting Continues
Wind and cooler temperatures prevailed across Oklahoma during most of the week. The State experienced temperatures averaging in the mid- to high-60’s, with temperatures dropping to as low as 29 degrees in Hooker. A few storms revisited the State during mid week, with precipitation ranging from 0.61 in the North Central district to 2.75 in the Southeast district. Overall soil moisture conditions continue to be rated in the surplus to adequate range with topsoil rated 26 percent surplus and subsoil remaining at 12 percent surplus. Although some producers were able to return to the fields and proceed with planting and harvesting activities due to calmer conditions across the State, many others were kept out of the fields as a result of excess rain
from prior weeks. There were 2.6 days suitable for field work.
Small Grains: Some small grain planting continued despite wet field conditions across the State. Wheat seedbed preparation reached 76 percent, a two point increase from the previous week, but 11 points behind the five-year average. Wheat emerged increased to 66 percent complete, six points ahead of the prior week, but four points behind normal. Rye planted was virtually complete, while 95 percent of the crop had emerged, five points ahead of the five-year average. Oat seedbed preparation was 84 percent completed, two points ahead of the previous week and in line with the five-year average. Forty one percent of oats were planted by week’s end, three points ahead of the previous week, but nine points behind normal. Oat emergence reached 35 percent, four points ahead of last week, but three points behind the five-year average.
Row Crops: Only isolated row crop harvesting continued throughout the week due to excess moisture in the fields. Row crop conditions continued to rate mostly in the good to fair range. Virtually all the corn was mature Sunday, two points up from the previous week, but two points behind the five-year average. Corn harvest was 80 percent complete by week’s end, a three point jump from the previous week but 16 points behind the five-year average. There were some reports of aphlatoxin across the State. All sorghum coloring was virtually complete by week’s end, while 60 percent had reached maturity, 17 points behind normal. Sorghum harvested reached 27 percent complete, up eight points from the prior week, but still 17 points behind normal. Sixty-five percent of soybeans reached maturity, up ten points from the previous week, but 12 points behind normal. Soybeans harvested reached 27 percent complete, up seven points from the prior week, but 22 points behind the five-year average. Peanuts at maturity reached 87 percent complete, up eight points from the previous week. Fifty-six percent of peanuts had been dug while 36 percent had been combined, eleven points behind the five-year average. Ninety-six percent of cotton bolls had opened, up four points from the previous week and in line with the five-year average. Cotton harvested had reached 12
percent by week’s end, up five points from the prior week, but still 14 points behind normal.
Hay: Haying activities continued in most areas of the State while some areas remained at a standstill due to wet field conditions. By week’s end, fifth cuttings of alfalfa were 70 percent complete, while sixth cuttings were 13 percent complete, up four points from the prior week but 18 points behind normal. Conditions of alfalfa continued to rate mostly in the good to fair range. Eighty two percent of other hay received a second cutting, three points ahead of the previous week, but six points behind the five-year average.
Pasture and Range: Pasture and range conditions continued to improve and by week’s end rated mostly good to fair, with a good rating of 50 percent and a fair rating of 34 percent.
